AWC Publications-Related Courses

Proper design of wood structures to resist high wind loads requires the correct use of wind load provisions and member design properties. A thorough understanding of the interaction between wind loads and material properties is important in the design process. Adjustments from reference wind conditions to extreme-value peak gusts require designers to make similar adjustments to design properties to ensure equivalent and economic designs. Wind load provisions have been developed for design of major structural elements using Main Wind-Force Resisting System (MWFRS) loads and secondary cladding elements using Component & Cladding (C&C) loads. Elements and subassemblies which receive loads both directly and as part of the main wind force resisting system, such as wall studs, must be checked independently for MWFRS loads and C&C loads. A load bearing stud wall design example based on the allowable stress design methods outlined in AWC's 2015 National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction and 2015 Wood Frame Construction Manual along with ASCE 7-10 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures will demonstrate standard design checks for limit states of strength and deflection.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this webinar, participants will:

Understand how to analyze wall framing as part of the MWFRS per ASCE 7-10

There are several design tools and standards to assist engineers, architects, and building officials with the design of shear walls. Prescriptive approaches such as those outlined in AWC's 2015 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings tend to provide conservative results. Engineered approaches such as those outlined in AWC's 2015 Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS) typically result in more efficient designs. This course will outline several resources available for shear wall design, compare design results, and provide an example for resisting seismic loads on a structure using both the WFCM and SDPWS.

Learning Objectives

On completion of this course, participants will:

Identify and understand the basic shear wall system to resist lateral seismic loads.

Understand the differences between segmented and perforated shear wall design.

Understand hold down design and special conditions that pertain to seismic hold downs.

Be able to identify and analyze shear walls per 2015 WFCM, and 2015 SDPWS and understand the differences between them.

This continuing education course provides an overview of wind-resistive design issues in wood buildings with a focus on compliance with the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and American Society of Civil Engineers/ Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE/ SEI) Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-10). The information on code-conforming wood design contained in this course is based on the American Wood Council’s (AWC’s) 2015 National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction, the 2015 Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS) and the 2015 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM).

Learning Objectives - After reading this article, you will be able to:

Describe the basic parameters for determining wind loads on buildings in accordance with the 2012 IBC and ASCE 7-10.

Consider the effects of topography, wind directionality and openings in the structure on calculated wind loads and wind pressures.

Explain how the exposure category for a building project can vary based on the roughness of nearby terrain.

Recognize the importance of a continuous load path minimize damage to wood buildings in a high wind event.

The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (ANSI/AWC WFCM-2012) has been updated to the 2015 WFCM which is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. This article will provide an overview of the significant changes in the 2015 WFCM relative to the previous 2012 edition.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this article, participants will:

Understand the purpose of the 2015 WFCM and its scope limitations.

Be familiar with the significant changes between the 2012 and 2015 WFCM.

Engineering concepts from the 2015 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM), used to develop the 2015 WFCM High Wind Guides, will be covered, along with updates on changes to the 2015 WFCM. The WFCM and High Wind Guides provide designers with time-saving tools using prescriptive solutions (based on structural engineering principles) for wood structures to resist anticipated wind loads. Example problems showing how to apply tabular solutions offered in the High Wind Guide will also be presented.

Learning Objectives

Be familiar with provisions of the 2015 WFCM and High Wind Guides and relevant references in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2015 International Building Code.

Be familiar with changes in the 2015 WFCM and how they impact structural design.

Understand how roof, floor, and wall assemblies and connections interact as part of a wind uplift and lateral force resisting system.

Understand how to appropriately apply tables in both the WFCM and High Wind Guides to determine prescriptive minimums.

This course uses Design of Wood Frame Buildings for High Wind, Snow, and Seismic Loadings (2015 WFCM Workbook) which provides a design example, helpful checklist, and background information for design of a wood-frame structure in accordance with the 2015 WFCM (referenced in the 2015 IRC and IBC). Using plans from a 2-story residence, participants prescriptively design the structure to resist high wind, seismic, and typical residential gravity loads. An overview of appropriate loads to apply to residential structures will be provided. Participants will work through roof, wall, and floor system designs including shear walls and appropriate connections between roof, floor, wall, and foundations to maintain load path.

The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (ANSI/AWC WFCM-2015) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. The WFCM contains tabulated prescriptive and engineered design provisions based on ASCE 7-10 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures and covers connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems. A range of structural elements are included such as sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural panel sheathing, I-joists, and trusses.

Part 1 will provide an overview of the 2-story example structure, loads to be resisted, and applicability limitations of the WFCM.

Learning Outcomes

Upon Completion of this course, participants will:

Learn the appropriate high wind, seismic, and snow loads to apply to residential structures based on code-referenced load standards.

Learn about the engineering basis of prescriptive tables used to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use prescriptive tables to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use checklists and detailing summaries to ensure a complete load path is prescriptively designed.

This course uses Design of Wood Frame Buildings for High Wind, Snow, and Seismic Loadings (2015 WFCM Workbook) which provides a design example, helpful checklist, and background information for design of a wood-frame structure in accordance with the 2015 WFCM (referenced in the 2015 IRC and IBC). Using plans from a 2-story residence, participants prescriptively design the structure to resist high wind, seismic, and typical residential gravity loads. An overview of appropriate loads to apply to residential structures will be provided. Participants will work through roof, wall, and floor system designs including shear walls and appropriate connections between roof, floor, wall, and foundations to maintain load path.

The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (ANSI/AWC WFCM-2015) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. The WFCM contains tabulated prescriptive and engineered design provisions based on ASCE 7-10 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures and covers connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems. A range of structural elements are included such as sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural panel sheathing, I-joists, and trusses.

Part 2 will focus on the roof story design including gable-end wall framing, roof and ceiling framing and sheathing, and connections.

Learning Outcomes

Upon Completion of this course, participants will:

Learn the appropriate high wind, seismic, and snow loads to apply to residential structures based on code-referenced load standards.

Learn about the engineering basis of prescriptive tables used to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use prescriptive tables to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use checklists and detailing summaries to ensure a complete load path is prescriptively designed.

This course uses Design of Wood Frame Buildings for High Wind, Snow, and Seismic Loadings (2015 WFCM Workbook) which provides a design example, helpful checklist, and background information for design of a wood-frame structure in accordance with the 2015 WFCM (referenced in the 2015 IRC and IBC). Using plans from a 2-story residence, participants prescriptively design the structure to resist high wind, seismic, and typical residential gravity loads. An overview of appropriate loads to apply to residential structures will be provided. Participants will work through roof, wall, and floor system designs including shear walls and appropriate connections between roof, floor, wall, and foundations to maintain load path.

The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (ANSI/AWC WFCM-2015) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. The WFCM contains tabulated prescriptive and engineered design provisions based on ASCE 7-10 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures and covers connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems. A range of structural elements are included such as sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural panel sheathing, I-joists, and trusses.

Part 3 will focus on the second-story design including floor and wall framing and sheathing (e.g. shear walls and framing around openings) and connections.

Learning Outcomes

Upon Completion of this course, participants will:

Learn the appropriate high wind, seismic, and snow loads to apply to residential structures based on code-referenced load standards.

Learn about the engineering basis of prescriptive tables used to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use prescriptive tables to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use checklists and detailing summaries to ensure a complete load path is prescriptively designed.

This course uses Design of Wood Frame Buildings for High Wind, Snow, and Seismic Loadings (2015 WFCM Workbook) which provides a design example, helpful checklist, and background information for design of a wood-frame structure in accordance with the 2015 WFCM (referenced in the 2015 IRC and IBC). Using plans from a 2-story residence, participants prescriptively design the structure to resist high wind, seismic, and typical residential gravity loads. An overview of appropriate loads to apply to residential structures will be provided. Participants will work through roof, wall, and floor system designs including shear walls and appropriate connections between roof, floor, wall, and foundations to maintain load path.

The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (ANSI/AWC WFCM-2015) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. The WFCM contains tabulated prescriptive and engineered design provisions based on ASCE 7-10 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures and covers connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems. A range of structural elements are included such as sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural panel sheathing, I-joists, and trusses.

Part 4 will focus on the first-story design and include summation of loads from above and connections specific to foundations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon Completion of this course, participants will:

Learn the appropriate high wind, seismic, and snow loads to apply to residential structures based on code-referenced load standards.

Learn about the engineering basis of prescriptive tables used to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use prescriptive tables to size wood members and connections to resist high wind, seismic, and snow loads.

Learn to use checklists and detailing summaries to ensure a complete load path is prescriptively designed.

The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (ANSI/AWC WFCM-2015) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. For WFCM wind load calculations, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-10) is used. The 2015 WFCM includes design information for buildings located in regions with 700-year return period “three second gust” design wind speeds between 110 and 195 mph. ASD wind pressures for Main Wind-Force Resisting Systems (MWFRS) and Components and Cladding (C&C) are computed. Shear, uplift, and overturning loads are calculated for various building components. WFCM Chapter 2 provides minimum loads for the purpose of establishing specific resistance requirements for buildings within the scope of the document. This presentation will provide background and examples for calculation of these forces which will enable designers and code officials to quickly determine wind design loads for projects.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will:

Understand applicable wind loads from ASCE 7-10 for structures within the WFCM scope.

Be familiar with application of MWFRS versus C&C loads for various building components and systems.

Be familiar with shear, uplift, and overturning wind loads for various building components.

Be familiar with tabulated values and their basis in WFCM Chapter 2 for wind loads.

The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (ANSI/AWC WFCM-2015) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. For WFCM load calculations, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-10) is used. The 2015 WFCM includes design information not only for lateral loads, but for gravity loads including snow, roof live, floor live, and dead loads on buildings up to 3 stories. This presentation will provide background and examples for calculation of these forces which will enable designers and code officials to quickly determine gravity design loads for projects. Examples include thrust connection loads on rafters and span impacts due to rafter ties; interior and exterior wall loads and related wall stud compression stresses; and hip and valley, and ridge beam capacity requirements.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will:

Understand applicable gravity loads from ASCE 7-10 for structures within the WFCM scope.

Be familiar with application of snow, live, and dead loads for various building components and systems.

Be familiar with the ramifications of gravity loads on various building components.

Be familiar with tabulated values and their basis in WFCM Chapter 2 for gravity loads.

The 2015 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. For WFCM load calculations, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-10) is used. The 2015 WFCM includes design information for wind and seismic loads and gravity loads including snow, roof live, floor live, and dead loads on buildings up to 3 stories. This presentation will provide background and examples for calculation of forces on headers which will enable designers and code officials to quickly determine design loads. It will also provide engineered prescriptive solutions for both solid sawn and glued-laminated timber headers to resist those loads. Related issues including jack studs, king studs, connections for lateral and gravity loads, and the difference between dropped and raised headers will be discussed.

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will:

Understand applicable lateral and gravity loads from ASCE 7-10 for headers within the WFCM scope.

Be familiar with the difference between dropped and raised headers.

Be familiar with the design of jack studs and king studs to resist both gravity and lateral loads.

Be familiar with the design of lateral, shear, gravity, and uplift connections related to headers.